Oscillating signal



July 21, 1931. c, F, CAPELL 1,815,139

OSCILLATING SIGNAL lFiled April 5. 1929 NM1 INVENToR. CZZI F.' Ctlpelb,

ATTORNEY.

its

Patented July 21, 1931 s'rTEs PATENT OFFICE.

CARL r. CAPELL, or SANTA MoNIoA,oALIFoRNIA, Assrenon or ONE-FOURTH To HERBERT GTLER BROWN, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA OSCILLATENG SIGNAL vapplication med April e,

This invention relates to an oscillatory signalling element for use in connection with a suction operated signalling apparatus of that type for projecting and retract- 5V ing signalling elements laterally with respect to the sides of the body of a motor vehicle, to conspicuously indicate during the day and night to the drivers of vehicles approaching from the front and rear the diio rection of turn, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a signalling element constructed in a manner to permit of the automatic oscillation thereof by the movement of the vehicle 15 when such element is projected and for arresting tl e oscillation thereof when such element is retracted. s

ri further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set .d ,e n

J orth, a signalling element for the purpose referred to, so constructed and arranged to completely enclose a lighting circuit connection leading to' an illuminable means for the element and with such means arranged 25 within the element.

A further object of the inventionis to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an oscillatoryT signalling element havl ing means at its front and rear to provide 3" a corresponding signal, such as a like direction of turn indication.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an oscillatory signalling element so constructed and arranged to completely Venclose a lighting circuit connection leadino` to an illuminable means forming a part or and arranged within the element and with such lighting circuit connection positioned within the element in a manner so as not to interfere with the light rays projected from the illuminabl@v means.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an oscillatory signalling element including an illuminable means and further including a support for such means to prevent the shifting of the latter in any direction during the oscillatory movement of the element.

1929. serial No. saaes.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, iir a manner as hereinafter set forth, an oscillatory signalling element which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efficient in its use, readily installed with respect to aprojecting and retracting means therefor, quickly assembled and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in Iviewthe'invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts' as hereinafter moreA specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, 4variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within thescope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a front elevation of a suction operated means with the suction lines and circuit connections for the `lighting circuit broken away and showing the' adaptation therewith of a pair of oscillatory signalling elements in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of an oscillatory signalling element in accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3 Figure 2.

Figure 4E is a horizontal sectional View of the signalling element.

Figure 5 is aperspective view of the lamp holder.

Oscillator-y signalling elements, in accordance with this invention are designed primarily for use in connection with a suction operated'signalling apparatus of the type as disclosed in my application Serial No. 348',- 852, filed March 2l, 1929, and for the purpose of illustrating the position of the signalling elements7 in accordance with this invention I with respect to such apparatus, a portion of the latter is shown. It is to be understood that no claim is made herein to such apparatus, other than the projecting and retracting rodv or bar for the signalling element and therefore such apparatus is not specilically described and the various elements thereof shown.

The signalling apparatus includes a tubular housing adapted to be secured to the front of the motor vehicle body, not shown, and is of such length whereby the signalling elements will be positioned in proximity to each side of such body. The housing as illustrated is indicated generally at 6 and is formed of an intermediate section 7 and a pair of end sections 8, 9. |The sections 8 and 9 telescope the section 7 and detachably connected therewith by the holdfast devices 10. The housing 6 is preferably secured to the visor 11 of the motor vehicle bythe coupling brackets 12. Suction lines 13, 14 and 15 extend into the housing. Circuit conductors 16, v17 forming parts of lighting circuits are also coupled to the housing. Each outer section of the housing has arranged therein a suction operated projecting and retracting bar or rod for a signalling element. rlhe specific construction as well as the arrangement of the elements referred to will be found in my application aforesaid.

With reference to Figure 1 a pair of signalling elements are illustrated and designated generally at 18, 19 and the former is set up to provide a signalling indication for a left turn as indicated at 20 and the latter a signalling indication for a right turn as indicated at 21. The signalling indication 2Ov is arr nged at the frontand rear of the element 18 and the signalling indication 21 is arranged at the front and rear of the element 19.

The signalling element includes a metallic casing comprising a top wall 22, a pair of side walls 23, 24, the former being the inner side wall and the latter the outer side wall, a bottom 25 provided with an outward opening 26, a front wall 27 and a rear wall 28.

The top wall 22 has formed integral therewith a tubular neck 29 which converges from its lower to its upper end and merges into a hollow head 30 of cylindrical form and which is closed at itsouter end and open at its inner end. rlhe top wall 22 is formed with an opening 31, the wall of which forms a continuation o-f the inner face of the neck 29 and the bottom of the head 30 is provided with an opening 32, the wall of which forms a continua-tion of the inner face of the neck 29. The outer end of the head 30 is rounded as at 33. The inner face of the head 30 in proximity to the closed end thereof is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed enlargements 34, 35, which in connection with the body of the head 30 provide supports 36 for a pivot member 37 which is secured in the head 30 and extended diametrically thereof. rlheouter ends of the pivot member 37 are flush with the inner periphery of the head 30. The pivot member 37 provides for suspending the signalling element, from a combined projecting and retracting rod or bar therefor, and the latter will be presently referred to.

he connection between the head 30 and the bar or rod is such whereby when the signalling element is projected to direction indicating position it will be caused to automatically oscillate during the travel of the vehicle, the oscillations being imparted to the signalling element from the movement of the vehicle and therefore it is obvious that as the signalling element oscillates it will direct attention thereto.

The combined projecting and retracting rod or bar for the signalling` element is indicated at 38. See Figure 2. The rod 38 is tubular and has arranged therein, as well as extended therefrom, a lighting circuit conductor 39. The rod 38 has an opening 40 in proximity to its outer end through which extends the conductor 39. The outer end of rod 38 is positioned between the supports 36 and is formed with an opening 41 for the pivot member 37 and the latter pivots in the opening 41. The inner diameter of the head 30 is materially greater than the diameter of rod 38 and the latter is disposed at the longitudinal median of head 30. The space formed between the rod 38 and inner face of the head 30 permits of the oscillating of the signalling element when the latter is in projected position, as shown in Figure 2. The oscillatory movement is limited in both directions due to the fact that the head 30 will contact or abut rod or bar 38.

The head 30 extends inwardly at right angles from the upper end of the neck 29, but the pivot member 37 is positioned at the vertical median of the signalling element. When the signalling element is in retracted position, the head 30 abuts against the outer housing section thereby preventing the oscillation thereof.

rlhe front wall 27 is formed with cutout portions 42 which coact with a translucent member 43 to form a signal designation. rlhe rear wall 28 is formed with cutout portions 44 corresponding to cutout portions 42.but reversely arranged with respect to the latter and said cutout portions 44 coact with a translucent member 45 to provide a signalling designation and which corresponds to that formed by the front wall in connection with the member 29.

The side wall 24 is formed with a pair of superposed openings 46 for the passage of light rays from the outer side of the signalling element and extending across said openings 46 is a translucent member or panel 47.

The bottom 25 has a centrally depressed part 48, which provides a recess 49.V The opening 26 is formed at the lower part of the depressed portion 48. The members or panels 43, 45 and 47 are colored. The panels 43 and 45 are of a like color but of a color different from the panel 47. The front wall 27 is removable so that access can be had to the interior of the casing and holdfast devices 50 are employed for detachably connecting the front wall 27 to the side walls 23, 24. The corners of the casing are rounded as indicated at 51. This improves the appearance of the casing.

Arranged within the casing of the signalling element is a lamp holder referred to generally at 52 and which is formed from a strap of resilient material and comprises a flat bottom 53, a pair of resilient sides 54, 55 and a pair of oppositely disposed, inturned iianges 56, 57 and which have their inner portions bent downwardly at an inclination, as at 58, and such portions are oppositely disposed to provide a positioning means for the conductor 39 of the lighting circuit.

rIhe sides 54, 55, at their transverse medians thereof, are inturned as at 59. The circuit conductor 39 passes down between the fianges 58, opposes side 54 of the holder and extends through an opening GO formed in the bottom 53 at a point between the transverse median of the latter and the side 54. The circuit conductor 39 passes into the recess 49 and is connected to the lower end of a socket member 6l which is carried by and extends through bottom 53 of the holder. The lamp of the signalling element is indicated Vat 62 and is detachably connected to the member 6l. As the circuit conductor 39 is positioned between the lamp 62 and the side 54 of the holder 52, such side being positioned against the inner face of the wall 23 of the casing, the light rays are not interfered with for passage through a pair of openings 63 formed in the. side 55 of the holder and which align with the openings 46 formed in the side wall 24 of the signalling element.

The panel 47 is interposed between the openings 63 and 46.

The holder being resilient, acts as a means to reduce the breakage of the lamp to a minimum, as it will retain the same stationary within the casing of the signalling element. In fact the lamp 62 is securely held by the holder within the casing of the signalling element, as the sides of the holder being resilient will constantly tend to bind against the inner faces of the walls 23, 24 to prevent any shifting of the holder.

It is thought the many advantages of an oscillatory signalling element, in accordance with this invention and for the purpose set forth can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

l. In an oscillatory signal of the illuminable type, the combination with a tubular carrier forming a conduit for a circuit connection and having an opening in proximity to its outer end for the passage therefrom for suoli connection` of a signalling element including a body portion having projecting from the top thereof a hollow neck terminating at its upper end in and opening into a tubular head extending inwardly at right angles to the neck, said head and neck providing for the passage of said circuit connection to a lamp supported within said body portion, and means for pivoting said head to the outer end of the carrier, said pivot means being disposed in alignment with the vertical median of the neck, the inner diameter of said head with respect to the outer diameter of said carrier being materially greater than such outer diameter whereby said carrier coacts with the inner end of the head for limiting the pivot for the signal-in opposite directions.

2. In an oscillatory signal of the illuminable type, the combination with a tubular carrier forming a conduit for a circuit connection and having an opening in proximity to its outer end for the passage therefrom for such connection, of a signalling element including a body portion having projecting from the top thereof a hollow neck terminating at its upper end in and opening into a tubular head extending inwardly at right angles to the neck, said head and neck providing for the passage of said circuit connection to a lamp supported within said body portion, and means for pivoting said head to the outer end of the carrier, said pivot means being disposed in alignment with the vertical median of the neck, the inner diameter of said head with respect to the outer diameter of said carrier being materially greater than such outer diameter whereby said carrier coacts with the inner end of the head for limiting the pivot for the signal in opposite directions, said head open at its inner end and closed at its outer end.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature hereto.

CARL F. CAPELL. 

